After 'selfie accidents' Goa lifeguard agency cautions tourists

A day after two tourists drowned while taking selfies at two different Goa beaches, the private lifeguard agency manning the state's beaches has cautioned tourists to beware of rough waves, which get generated in the monsoon.

"Keep away from the inter-tidal zone, which includes rocky hills, cliffs, roadsides abutting the sea that sees crashing waves. The sea conditions are extremely rough with the average wind speed being 25 km per hour and gusting winds up to 48 kms per hour," a statement issued by Ravi Shankar, the CEO of Drishti Marine, which is tasked by the state Tourism Department to provide lifeguards across the popular beaches in Goa.

"The waves have an approximate interval of 17.5 seconds on an average and can often scale a wave height of 2.9 metres. Visitors are requested to maintain at least 100 metres distance from breaking waves. A dry shore can be submerged in 15 seconds with the next significant wave," he warned.

On Sunday, two tourists, both from Tamil Nadu, drowned in separate incidents while taking selfies on rocky outcroppings on Baga and Sinquerim beaches.

--IANS

maya/vd